Former USC Trojan quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for 334 yards and four touchdowns, and No. 22 Ole Miss routed FCS visitor Mercer 73-7 in the Rebels’ season opener Saturday in Oxford, Miss.
Tre Harris, in his first game at Ole Miss, set a single-game program record with four receiving touchdowns. The Louisiana Tech transfer finished with six catches and 133 yards. He formed a very potent and effective tandem with Dart, who looked comfortable in the first game of a prove-it season for himself and the Rebels.
Ole Miss (1-0) racked up 667 yards of total offense and scored on all but two possessions.
Mercer (1-1), ranked No. 22 in the AFCA poll of FCS schools, scored on its first offensive snap, a 75-yard run by quarterback Carter Peevy. The Bears finished with 237 yards of total offense, including 138 from Peevy on 16 of 29 passing.
Jaxson Dart is a Utah native and a former National Gatorade Player of The Year. Dart has his work cut out for him next week in a tough matchup.
The No. 22 Rebels visit No. 24 Tulane on Sept. 9 in a nonconference top-25 headliner. We will know more about Dart and Ole Miss after this coming weekend.
Former Corner Canyon QB Jaxson Dart connects with Tre Harris for a TD. That’s 3 TD’s for the duo in the first 3 minutes of the game.. 👀
— Brice Larson (@LarsonSports) September 2, 2023
Check out our Pac-12 football predictions roundtable for the 2023 season.